Samsung Announces Galaxy Unpacked 2018

Samsung has announced the date for its next Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25, 2018. There is no picture of the smartphone, but it does confirm a few things. Despite Apple releasing the iPhone X or ten, Samsung will name its next flagship as the Galaxy S9. It also confirms that the rumors may be true and most of the focus on the S9 is its cameras. We’ll find out the full details at its Galaxy Unpacked event.

Toyota Teases Next Generation Avalon

Now that the new Camry has launched, Toyota has its sights on the Avalon and will debut the next generation at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.  Toyota has not released any details but has released a teaser pic of the front of the new Avalon.  The new Avalon appears to continue the dramatic style of the Camry.  

Toyota has released another teaser, but this time as a post on Twitter.  Toyota has released a video of the new taillamp of the new Toyota Avalon.  

New Year, new attitude. First look at the all-new #Avalon coming soon from 2018 @NAIASDetroit. https://t.co/Ge5MCCZJ23 #NAIAS pic.twitter.com/Xv8hXlcXcG

— Toyota USA (@Toyota) January 4, 2018

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Is Our Pick For Best Smartphone of 2017

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2017 for the Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8+

     Last year was an exciting year for smartphones.  Google debuted the Pixel 2.  Samsung debuted the Galaxy S8, after an explosive affair with the Galaxy Note 7 in 2016.  Samsung also debuted the Galaxy Note 8 in the second half of 2017.  Last year even saw the rebirth of Blackberry and Nokia.  There was even a new player, Andy Rubin's Essential.  Last but not least, Apple debuted the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and what was rumored as the tenth anniversary iPhone aka the iPhone X.  There were a great deal of other contenders on the market, but these were the big players in the market.  While, there were a lot of good devices, there can only be one best smartphone for 2017.

     There are many different ways to determine what makes a smartphone the best.  The way we determine the best smartphone is one that is the easiest to use as a daily driver that also brings the best in productivity.  We believe that smartphone is the Samsung Galaxy S8.  The Samsung S8 has a good feel with a prefect size, a beautiful display, and all the software one needs practically to use it right out of the box.  One of Samsung's best apps is Smart Switch.  With the Smart Switch app, the user can transfer almost everything from their old phone into their new phone.  It can also transfer from an iOS device, but as it is iOS and not Android, not everything can be transferred completely.  So, if the user has an older Samsung or an Android device from another manufacturer, they can copy the old device to the new device and it would intuitive for the user since it's practically the same.

Samsung Galaxy S8

     The Samsung Galaxy S8 debuted with a near bezel-less display, and does not have an awkward notch like the Apple iPhone X or the Essential Ph-1.  We feel this was a good trade off as it might of increased the bezel on top, but it doesn't take away from the display and seem like a piece of the movie that is playing is missing.  Like the Galaxy S6 and the S7 before that, the Galaxy S8 does not have a back plate or even a removable battery.  The S8 does have a headphone jack.  While some may agree with Apple that the headphone jack is ancient technology, choice is always good for the user. Aside from the near bezel-less display, the Galaxy S8's design is an evolution from the Galaxy S7, and the S6 before that.  Samsung may have wanted consumers to feel that the S8 was a revolutionary design with their unboxing campaign, but is the S8 really that much different from the S7 or even the S6?  The back of the device looks pretty much the same with the camera, flash, and heart beat sensor.  The only addition is the fingerprint sensor right next to the camera.  Speaking of the fingerprint sensor, Samsung really designed it in an awkward position.  It is fairly easy to smudge the camera while trying to reach for the sensor.  It's too bad Samsung was unable to debut the sensor beneath the display.  If the rumors are true, it appears Samsung is unable to put the sensor beneath the display on the Galaxy S9 as well.  While we can't give high marks to Samsung on the fingerprint sensor, we can give them high marks for the virtual pressure sensitive home button.  We say virtual because the button is no longer a hardware button.  The virtual home button is pressure sensitive, and even if it is not on the display, it will still act as a home button if you press firmly where the home button should be.  The virtual navigation buttons so far has not given us trouble.  Another feature that Samsung included is that it is possible to pin the navigation controls so it will not automatically hide them.  In the US, the Galaxy S8 is powered by Qualcomm's 10nm Snapdragon 835 processor.  The Galaxy S8 is fast and opening a bunch of apps does not seem to slow it down.  Samsung has heard the complaints about bloatware and some of the apps that came pre-installed on Samsung smartphones now need to be downloaded from the Galaxy Apps store.  The device comes pre-installed with the usual Google apps such as Google Maps, Chrome, Gmail, and others.  It also comes with Samsung and service provider apps.  We liked some of the pre-installed apps such as Smart Switch that we mentioned earlier, Secure Folder, Samsung Notes, and Email.  We were impressed with Samsung's Email app.  It was able to automatically configure server settings better than the Mail app in our experience.  One of the most touted features for the Galaxy S8 was Bixby, but it wasn't very impressive.  Bixby still was not available when the Galaxy S8 debuted, and even when it did, it had some issues to be ironed out.  Bixby is much better now, but we still find ourselves preferring Google Assistant over Bixby.  

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

     Bixby one of the most touted features wasn't the only thing on mind at Samsung.  The Galaxy Note 7 was one of the biggest setbacks for Samsung Mobile.  It was highly praised device, but ended up getting discontinued due to battery issues.  Samsung did not want to repeat that mistake, and the Galaxy S8 did give Samsung some redemption, but will the Galaxy Note 8 finish the year for Samsung on a high note or will it go up in flames like the Galaxy Note 7?  So far, the Galaxy Note 8 is another highly praised device and what brought down the Note 7 does not seem to be an issue for the Note 8.  The big difference between the Galaxy S8 and the Note 8 is the features that the spectacular stylus adds to the device and the dual camera.  Samsung has really improved the stylus so much that it really feels like the user is using a pen on the touchscreen device.  Writing and signing notes and documents on the Note 8 feels like a using a paper and pen.  If work requires you to be constantly on the go, the Note 8 should be on the top your list or least on your list.  With Samsung's Write on PDF app and the S-pen, signing documents is easy as pen and paper.  Everything is saved on the device.  If you suddenly need to take notes, just take out the S-Pen and you can write notes without even having to unlock the device.  Using Smart Select, you can add the number you just wrote to your contacts.  You can also use Smart Select to write notes on images and send them to your coworkers to let them know what is wrong.  Samsung's Galaxy Note series is the best smartphone for productivity, but we're giving it an honorable mention because of its size.  While the bezel-less display does make it smaller, we prefer the smaller size of the Galaxy S8.  If Samsung had come out with a Galaxy Note 8 mini that had all the features of the 6.3" Galaxy Note, we would of picked that as the smartphone of 2017.  A big display is great for reading documents or watching videos, but in our minds, a smartphone should be easy to hold and do most things with only one hand.  It should be able to fit in a pocket without feeling bulky.  We shouldn't need to have to buy a holster because the smartphone will take up too much room in our pockets.  We would welcome a 5.7" Galaxy Note with our pocketbooks.

     Speaking of pocketbooks, this list wouldn't be complete without mentioning Apple's iPhone X.  It's the smartphone that most consumers were anticipating and takes the biggest chunk out of buyer's pocketbooks.  With a price starting at $999 USD, it's the most expensive out of the three smartphones.  Apple confessed that the iPhone X was originally slated to debut in 2018, but with Apple's impressive engineering teams they were actually able to make a debut in 2017.  In our minds though, the iPhone and especially the iPhone X isn't really a smartphone.  It's really a multi-media device.  It's not really geared for productivity or tech geeks in our opinion.  In a way, it's actually an evolutionary extension of the iPod.  Unlike the Galaxy Note, the biggest feature of the iPhone X is actually its TrueDepth camera system.  Yes, we're not considering the bezel-less display with a notch as one of its biggest features cause a lot of phones already have it.  On a side note, the iPhone X's OLED display is by Samsung.  The TrueDepth camera system is impressive and projects over 30,000 invisible dots to map a user's face.  It allowed Apple to replace TouchID with FaceID.    TrueDepth also allowed Apple to create what its calling Animojis.

The Poo Animoji

TrueDepth will scan the user's face and give Animojis the exact expression that is on a user's face.  Animojis can also be recorded with sound.  Isn't that a neat new feature?  It is, but it doesn't improve a user's productivity.  It's just for fun and that's one of the reasons why we think that the iPhone X is really a multi-media device.  Apple has also had to make a lot of changes because the iPhone X is the first iPhone that does not have a home button of any kind.  Our guess is that they don't want consumers to think the iPhone has become a copy of Android if they added virtual navigation buttons and another way to emphasize how easy iPhone to use is to eliminate even the home button as well.  Due to the lack of a home button, users have had to learn the new way of doing things and it does take some getting use to.  Also due to the lack of the home button, turning off the device is a two button process.  It requires the power button and one of the volume buttons!  Also, still need to swipe to shutdown the device like all the iPhones before it.  It makes us wonder why didn't Apple make Siri a two button process since the user can already activate Siri by saying 'Hey Siri.'  By the way, instead of holding the home button, the new way is to hold the power key.    If the changes in navigation bother you, and you're not interested in Animojis, we recommend you consider the Apple iPhone 8 instead.  It's got most of the improvements of the iPhone X, but without the TrueDepth or the new way to navigate that requires some time to get use to.  Another interesting decision by Apple is that their response to features that Samsung has had for years is rather timid.  It's great that they finally have wireless charging, but how come multi-window is still only on the iPad and not the iPhone?  

     Like last year, this year should prove to be an interesting year for smartphones.  It'll be interesting to see what Samsung will come up with to counter Apple's iPhone X.  Rumors going around the Internet is that Samsung will debut Galaxy S9 earlier to do battle with Apple's iPhone X.  We disagree with this assumption.  Instead we believe that the rumored Galaxy X is the unicorn that will battle the iPhone X.  DJ Koh, Samsung's President of Mobile Communications Business has already stated in 2017 that Samsung is trying debut the Galaxy X in 2018.  Rumors are saying that this may not happen due to complexity.  However, we feel that the Galaxy X is the answer to Apple's iPhone X because the Galaxy S9 will be improved over the S8, but it'll be an evolutionary device.  When Apple debuted the iPhone X, they not only touted that the new iPhone was technologically advanced, but it's the most innovative since the debut of the iPhone.  Pictures of cases for the Samsung Galaxy 9 have started showing up on the Internet and they do not appear to be that much different from the Galaxy S8.  This means that the Galaxy X will be more innovative than the Galaxy S8 because it will be the first foldable smartphone from a mainstream manufacturer.  Later in year, Samsung as usual will debut the Galaxy Note 9 to join the Galaxy S9, and Apple will debut the next iPhone.  The question is, will the next iPhone be the iPhone 9 or will it be the iPhone XI?  The other question is will Apple debut a more inexpensive iPhone or will all designs forthcoming be an evolution of the iPhone X?  The other is question is will the successor to the iPhone X be as exciting as the iPhone X when it debuted or will be another downer like the iPhone 7?

Summary Review: Is It The Next Big Thing? ...Not Quite

Along with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Samsung debuted the Galaxy Gear smartwatch.  The Galaxy Gear is powered by an 800 Mhz processor with a 1.63 inch display.  Yes, you guessed it, like Samsung's smartphones, the display is Super AMOLED.  It has a rugged yet classy design, the Galaxy Gear looks better in person than it does in pictures.  Is it the next big thing thou?  We don't think it's ready for that moniker yet.  It reminds us of  Sony's first Smartwatch, which is actually their second smartwatch.  Sony Liveview was their first.  While the device is responsive and fluid, it doesn't seem complete.  When using the Gmail app on the smartwatch, it just shows a Gmail logo on the display when messages come in.  When you click on the Gmail logo, you get a message to read it on your smartphone.  Isn't the purpose of a smartwatch so I don't have to pull out my smartphone?  Call quality isn't too bad on the smartwatch, but don't expect loud crystal clear sound.  It is possible to carry a conversation on the smartwatch however.  The Galaxy Gear also has a camera on the watchband.  It's only 1.9 Megapixels and it takes relatively decent shots.  Is it the next big thing?  Not quite yet.  There are a lot of refinements Samsung needs to make before it deserves that label.  Now the Galaxy Note 3, that really is the next big thing. 

Samsung Announces Flexible Display Smartphone

SEOUL -- Samsung Mobile announces the world's first curved display smartphone.  The Galaxy Round uses Samsung's flexible display technology.  The design resembles the Galaxy Note 3 and has a similar back. It even has a 5.7' display like the Galaxy Note 3 and they both use a 2.3 Ghz Snapdragon processor.  The Galaxy Round however does not include a stylus.  The Galaxy Round will be sold in Korea in "Luxury Brown."  Samsung did not release any details on if the device would be sold in other markets.

Infiniti To Launch New Nomenclature With 2014 Model Year

HONG KONG, PROC -- Infiniti announced a new naming strategy with the 2014 model year. All vehicles will pay heritage to the original Infiniti Q45. All sedans, coupes, and convertibles will be labeled Q.  All sport utility vehicles and crossovers will be labeled QX.  Also the number beside the Q will no longer reflect the engine displacement but where the model lies in the lineup.  The first model to be sold under the new nomenclature will be the Q50, currently known as the G37.

2013 Infiniti G37 sedan

Is the new nomenclature better or worse?  It is our opinion that the new nomenclature will be more confusing despite their "desire for clarity and cohesiveness."  If the consumer is not aware of the naming convention, the Q50 sounds like a successor to the Q45.

Notice to readers about our new dateline policy

Effective immediately, we will discontinue to abide by AP style datelines when it pertains to stories that originated from the People's Republic of China or Taiwan.  Instead, we will label all stories as city, PROC or city, Taiwan (Formosa).  It is the official stance of this blog that Taiwan is an independent country and not a part of the People's Republic of China or more commonly known as China.  This is our stance and does not reflect Blogger or Google's stance.  If you'd like to know their stance, inquire with Google.  Our new dateline policy is to reflect our stance.  Stories that originated in all other countries will be in AP style format.

My Idea For PlayStation 4

We've all at least heard about or even seen the new Wii U from Nintendo. Some of my esteemed colleagues say that the Wii U won't succeed  What about the PlayStation?  What can Sony do to make sure PlayStation succeeds.  Here is my idea for the next generation PlayStation.  Don't start drooling because this is my idea of what the next PlayStation be like and there is nothing official about it.  The landscape has changed dramatically and things aren't so easy for game consoles like the Wii and PlayStation to survive.  Sony still doesn't seem to have a game plan or at least that one I can see.  These days it's all about the ecosystem and Sony doesn't really have one.  This is where my plan comes in.  Sony should take a page from Google's playbook.  The Sony ecosystem should center around the PlayStation.  The PlayStation would be like Google's Nexus smartphone.  It's not the most powerful, but its the center of the Sony universe, and where all the innovation goes.  Since Sony is playing catch up, the next PlayStation should be powered by Android.  While this may seem like an unusual choice, it'll make more sense as I unfurl my vision.  It'll make backward compatibility practically impossible, but we're going with a fresh start and creating a new ecosystem after all. The next move is for Sony to discontinue all DVD and Blu-Ray players.  The PlayStation would be the center of the Sony universe and there would be multiple versions of the new PlayStation.  PlayStation E1 will be the entry model.  It'll come with 160 GB of storage space, one controller, and no optical disc reader.  The target price will be around 99-150 USD.  The next PlayStation model will be the PlayStation E2.  This model will also come with 160 GB of storage space, one controller, but it'll also have a DVD player.  The target price for this model will be 199 USD.  The E3 will be the flagship of the E series and come with 160 GB of storage space, one controller, and a Blu-Ray player.  Target price of the E3 will be 249 USD.  The PlayStation H will be the E3 except with 320GB of storage with an MSRP of 299 USD.  None of these specs sound revolutionary or exciting but that's where the PlayStation M comes in.

The PlayStation M is the jewel of my concept and where the plan of a new ecosystem comes in.  PlayStation M will come with 500 GB of storage, two controllers, a Blu-Ray player, and a new XPERIA M smartphone.  MSRP will be around 1000 USD.  The smartphone will be an unlocked model.  It's probably peeking people's curiosity as to why a smartphone is part of the specs.  The facts are that the PlayStation Vita and even the Nintendo 3DS are getting killed in the marketplace by Apple's iPhone/iPod touch.  The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play flopped because it was poorly executed.  The new XPERIA M would be an Android powered smartphone that is connected with the PlayStation and acts like the screen on the Wii U controller. The XPERIA M would also be the successor to the PlayStation Vita.  There would be games made especially for Xperia smartphones, but one feature I'd really like to see is the ability to download the game from the PlayStation to the smartphone and be able to play the game on the go.  This feature would be exclusive to Sony Xperia smartphones.  Android smartphones not made by Sony would only have the ability to use their smartphone as a controller by downloading an app from Sony.  By using Android, Sony can save money by signing a contract with Google to create a special Sony store on Google Play.  This is also why earlier the E1 only came with a hard drive and no optical disc reader.  Instead of selling all sorts of stuff such as MP3, DVD, Blu-Ray players, Sony can concentrate on the PlayStation and make accessories for it instead.  The PlayStation would become central to a new Sony ecosystem.  What is your idea for the next PlayStation?

DISCLAIMER:  The models and specifications are my idea of what the next PlayStation should be like.  None of the models or specifications exist.

Reusing Instead of Recycling Is Better For The Environment

In our world today, we can no longer afford to be as carefree as we were before.  Every little bit we do to help the  planet matters.  Recycling is a good step, but re-using is even better for our environment.  We wonder why the government hasn't promoted re-using over recycling.  Recycling metal and plastic requires industrial processes that may not be pollution free.  This is why we're promoting reuse.  In our new reuse segment, we'll be posting some of our ideas on how products we use can be reused.  Please feel free to share some of your ideas and together we can help save the planet.

A product that can be reused after use is Tic Tac's 200 mint bottle.  It's got a little flap on top and the whole lid can also be opened.  Removing the plastic Tic Tac label makes the container translucent.  The label comes off easily and won't leave a sticky mess.  It can be used as a large container for salt or pepper to be placed on the table.  It can also be used as a container for all the flash drives and other small items needed for the day.  It can also be used to hold paperclips.  While it can be recycled, reusing the container is better for the environment and reducing our impact on the planet.

Best Smartphone for Q4 2012 on Sprint

The Samsung Galaxy S III is one of the most advanced smartphones currently on the market. It'll get even better when it gets Samsung's Premium Suite upgrade. It's a little bit on the large size being that it is 4.8 inch smartphone. Apple's iPhone is a better size at 4 inches in our opinion, but it suffers growing pains. It's like watching an analog video on an HDTV, black bars show up when old apps are used on the new larger iPhone 5. No matter the size of the device, Android doesn't have this issue. While Apple improved iOS with the notifications shade, Android has long had this feature. What separates Samsung's Galaxy S III from other Android phones and even the Apple iPhone are motion gestures. One of the motion gestures we really like is Samsung's Smart Stay. It keeps the display on when you're looking at and turns off the screen when you're not. It makes a whole lot of sense compared to the display sleep setting. This is especially useful when reading an e-book. Apps either use the sleep setting and turn off the display while you're reading, or it forces the display to stay on and drain your batteries. With Smart Stay, the smartphone only needs to keep the display on when you are looking at it. Another neat motion gesture is Direct Call. Just pull up the contact and take the phone to your ear and it'll automatically call that contact. What happens if you miss a call? If the phone is face down and the screen is turned off, Smart Alert will vibrate the phone when you pick it up to let you know that you've missed calls. There are even more motion gestures but these are the ones we liked. The Galaxy S III also has other features such as Google Maps. It's practically on every Android phone, but the S III's large screen makes it easier to use. It's one of Google's crown jewels and there isn't a better solution unless you're talking about actual GPS navigation devices like Garmin's Nuvi. Apple Maps is like beta and in its infancy, but Apple is working on improving it. Another feature the Galaxy S III has an advantage over iPhone 5 is NFC. We're actually surprised and not surprised that Apple did not include NFC with the iPhone 5. We're not surprised thou because Apple seems to like proprietary solutions, and their war on Android is probably another reason why they didn't include it. With NFC, the user can tap to pay if they're using Google Wallet or ISIS. Another way NFC is used is Samsung's S-Beam. S-Beam is where the user taps the phone with another Samsung smartphone with NFC to share pictures and files. With a powerful processor, microSD card slot, user replaceable battery, and a multitude of neat and innovative features, the Samsung Galaxy S III is our pick for best overall smartphone on Sprint.

Sprint has some other great smartphones to choose from. The LG Optimus G is powerful and has a beautiful display but an embedded SIM and battery and no microSD slot is disappointing. Another smartphone to consider on the Sprint network is the Apple iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 has grown compared to the 4S and now has a 4 inch display. The larger display allows an extra column of icons on the home screen. Despite some growth, it's still smaller than the LG Optimus G or Samsung Galaxy S III, so it's easier to hold. If you don't mind being locked into Apple's ecosystem, the iPhone 5 is a great smartphone for making calls, listening to music, and watching videos. The iPhone use to have a bigger selection of apps then Google's Android, but they've caught up.  There's pretty much no difference in selection of apps for Android and iOS. Another issue as we mentioned earlier is that Apple Maps is still in its infancy and looses out to Google Maps. The iPhone 5 also currently no longer has a better selection of accessories then Android either since the roll out of the new lightning connector. The bottom line is if you don't mind being locked into Apple's ecosystem and investing into proprietary accessories then the iPhone 5 is beautifully crafted smartphone with an equally beautiful Retina display.

UPDATE:  The new Google Maps app has made it to the iTunes App Store on 12-12-12.  

Best Smartphone for Q4 2012 on Verizon Wireless

The fight of the titans is going on in the marketplace and in the courtrooms. There are many powerful and easy to use devices on the market. Verizon has top contenders from Apple, HTC, Motorola, and Samsung in their lineup. All of them have or had some sort of lawsuit somewhere in the world against each other. Right now, we're only interested in which one is the top contender and not who is going to win the battle in the courtroom. The choice was tough. There are many good choices, but in the end our pick goes to the Samsung Galaxy S III despite it being released before the Apple iPhone 5 or HTC Droid DNA.

The Samsung Galaxy S III is one of the most advanced smartphones currently on the market. It'll get even better when it gets Samsung's Premium Suite upgrade. It's a little bit on the large size being that it is 4.8 inch smartphone, but it's smaller then HTC's Droid DNA. Apple's iPhone is better at 4 inches, but it suffers growing pains. It's like watching an analog video on an HDTV, black bars show up when old apps are used on the new larger iPhone 5. No matter the size of the device, Android doesn't have this issue. While Apple improved iOS with the notifications shade, Android has long had this feature. What separates Samsung's Galaxy S III from other Android phones and even the Apple iPhone are motion gestures. One of the motion gestures we really like is Samsung's Smart Stay. It keeps the display on when you're looking at and turns off the screen when you're not. It makes a whole lot of sense compared to the display sleep setting. This is especially useful when reading an e-book. Apps either use the sleep setting and turn off the display while you're reading, or it forces the display to stay on and drain your batteries. With Smart Stay, the smartphone only needs to keep the display on when you are looking at it. Another neat motion gesture is Direct Call. Just pull up the contact and take the phone to your ear and it'll automatically call that contact. What happens if you miss a call? If the phone is face down and the screen is turned off, Smart Alert will vibrate the phone when you pick it up to let you know that you've missed calls. There are even more motion gestures but these are the ones we liked. The Galaxy S III also has other features such as Google Maps. It's practically on every Android phone, but the S III's large screen makes it easier to use. It's one of Google's crown jewels and there isn't a better solution unless you're talking about actual GPS navigation devices like Garmin's Nuvi. Apple Maps is like beta and in its infancy, but Apple is working on improving it. Another feature the Galaxy S III has an advantage over iPhone 5 is NFC. We're actually surprised and not surprised that Apple did not include NFC with the iPhone 5. We're not surprised thou because Apple seems to like proprietary solutions, and their war on Android is probably another reason why they didn't include it. With NFC, the user can tap to pay if they're using Google Wallet or ISIS. Another way NFC is used is Samsung's S-Beam. S-Beam is where the user taps the phone with another Samsung smartphone with NFC to share pictures and files. With a powerful processor, microSD card slot, user replaceable battery, and a multitude of neat and innovative features, the Samsung Galaxy S III is our pick for best smartphone on Verizon Wireless.

Innovative in its own right, another smartphone to consider on Verizon Wireless is the newest in Verizon's line of DROID marketed phones, the DROID DNA by HTC. It's currently $199 after two-year agreement. It was a close call. We would of picked the Samsung Galaxy Note II with its replaceable battery, microSD slot, and the neat apps that Samsung includes with the stylus, but it wasn't enough to justify the $100 USD premium over the DROID DNA. The Apple iPhone 5 was another close contender, but it also doesn't have a microSD slot or user replaceable battery, and in our opinion really isn't that much of an innovation over the iPhone 4S. Another issue with the iPhone 5 is that Apple Maps is a work in progress. With smartphones getting bigger, they're also becoming our navigation devices as well.
In the next segment of our Best Smartphone series, we'll be discussing the best overall smartphone for Sprint.

Best Smartphone for Q4 2012 on T-Mobile

T-Mobile was the first carrier to sell Android with the HTC G1.  It was panned for being too much like a beta device.  Many versions later, Android phones are quite a contender.  Worldwide, Android has a bigger share then the much vaulted Apple iPhone.  Currently, T-Mobile still relies on Android smartphones and lacks the Apple iPhone in their lineup.

It might not be the most feature packed smartphone out there, but the Google Nexus 4 is the best overall smartphone out there.  Armed with the latest version of Android, version 4.2 Jellybean, the Nexus 4 is elegant and powerful.  The biggest plus is that the Nexus 4 is unlocked, and we're big fans of unlocked smartphones.  Another plus is that the Nexus 4 is sure to get upgraded promptly to the next version of Android since it's a pure stock install of Android. T-Mobile is the only carrier to be selling the Nexus 4, but expect a premium over getting it from Google Play unless you're buying it subsidized on contract.

If you don't mind contracts, then another good choice on T-Mobile is the Samsung Galaxy Note II.  It's got a powerful 1.6 GHz quad-core processor, and it's not burdened by Steve Jobs' dislike of the stylus.  The Galaxy Note II is an innovative crossbreed between a large smartphone and a small tablet.  Unfortunately, this is also a detriment.  It features a large 5.5" display, which some people feel is too large.  It's better suited to be a work device then it is as a primary smartphone.  We hope Android's trend towards larger smartphones stops at some point.  In our opinion, 4.3" is the best size for a smartphone.  The Google Nexus 4 by LG in comparison is a big 4.7 inches.  It's a bit large, but still manageable.  We hope they'll shrink back to 4.3 inches, but that doesn't seem likely.  We'll cross our fingers that 4.7 inches is where Android manufacturers stop growing.  Another issue is the Galaxy Note II's price.  It's $369.99 after a two year contract on T-Mobile's website.   It's even more expensive than the unlocked Nexus 4 16 GB  on the Google Play website.  Lastly, while the Galaxy Note II offers features you won't find on any other smartphone, including the Apple iPhone 5, we feel most consumers won't need the additional features that the device provides and so it won't give them the biggest bang for their buck.  People who need the most powerful and fully featured smartphone and don't mind the price, this device is made for you.

In the next segment of our Best Smartphone series, we'll be discussing the best overall smartphone for Verizon Wireless.  Will the Apple iPhone 5 finally win one?  Stay tuned to find out.

Best Smartphone for Q4 2012 on AT&T

AT&T was the first carrier to sell the Apple iPhone in the United States and some of the best Android phones were a hard find at the carrier.  However, things at AT&T have changed.  They're no longer the only carrier that sells the iPhone, and they also carry some of the best Android phones on the market.  The phones are so good, it's tough to say which one is the best smartphone on the AT&T network.

HTC One X+ (International Version Pictured)

With a slim margin, we'd have to say that the best smartphone on the AT&T network is the HTC One X+.  It features a powerful 1.7 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and a beautiful 4.7 inch Super LCD 2 display.  Like most HTC Android smartphones, the One X+ comes with HTC Sense.  HTC's UI is elegant and runs fairly quickly.  We prefer HTC's Sense over Samsung TouchWiz, but like all manufacturer UI, it's an add-on on top of Android.  The One X+  As beautiful as the UI, the HTC One X+ has an 8 megapixel camera with a dedicated HTC ImageChip processor that takes lovely pictures.  The front facing camera is a 1.6 megapixel unit.  Powering the HTC One X+ is a non-user replaceable 2100 mAh battery.  We left the best for last.  There is still no microSD slot, but storage on the One X+ is now a huge 64 GB.  Unfortunately, some of its occupied, the user isn't able to use all of the 64 GB, but its still a lot of storage space.  With a two year contract, the One X+ is only $199.99 on AT&T.  A 64GB Apple iPhone 5 will set you back $399.99, and that's the two year contract price.  So, we feel that the HTC One X+ is the best overall smartphone on AT&T.

It's not the best overall smartphone, but the absolute best smartphone on AT&T has to be the Samsung Galaxy Note II.  It's got a powerful 1.6 GHz quad-core processor, and it's not burdened by Steve Jobs' dislike of the stylus.  So, why didn't we pick the Samsung Galaxy Note II over the HTC One X+?  The Galaxy Note II is an innovative crossbreed between a large smartphone and a small tablet.  Unfortunately, this is also a detriment.  It features a large 5.5" display, which some people feel is too large.  It's better suited to be a work device then it is as a primary smartphone.  We hope Android's trend towards larger smartphones stops at some point.  In our opinion, 4.3" is the best size for a smartphone.  The Google Nexus 4 by LG in comparison is a big 4.7 inches.  It's a bit large, but still manageable.  We hope they'll shrink back to 4.3 inches, but that doesn't seem likely.  We'll cross our fingers that 4.7 inches is where Android manufacturers stop growing.  Another issue is the Galaxy Note II's price.  It's $299 after a two year contract.  It's 100 dollars more than the HTC One X+.  Lastly, while the Galaxy Note II offers features you won't find on any other smartphone, including the Apple iPhone 5, we feel most consumers won't need the additional features that the device provides and so it won't give them the biggest bang for their buck.  People who need the most powerful and fully featured smartphone, this device is made for you.

Civic Debuts At LAAS And Dealers

LOS ANGELES -- Honda's restyled Civic made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show and at car dealers today.   2013 will be the Civic's 40th Anniversary in America. Prices start $18,165 for the LX sedan.  The DX model has been dropped.  Standard on every Honda Civic is Bluetooth, rearview camera, color i-MID display, USB/iPod® connection, Pandora Interface, an SMS text feature, steering wheel audio controls, and even an exterior temperature gauge.  The 2013 Civic Sedan and Coupe is available in LX, EX, EX-L and Si trimlevels.  The Civic sedan is also available in hybrid and natural gas.

Hyundai unwraps CUV

LOS ANGELES -- Hyundai unwraps the three-row Santa Fe at the LA Auto Show.  Hyundai says that the Santa Fe is the only midsize compact ultility vehicle with a standard direct injection V6 engine.  The 3.3 liter V6 engine produces 290 horsepower.  The new Santa Fe features Hyundai's "Fluidic Sculpture" design language.  Safety is of importance and the Santa Fe has seven airbags standard.  Hyundai says the Santa Fe is lighter than the Veracruz and the new Pathfinder from Nissan.  The three row Santa Fe will go on sale early next year.  Hyundai says they'll announce the pricing of the Santa Fe closer to the sale date.

2013 Toyota RAV 4 debuts at LAAS

LOS ANGELES -- Toyota debuts the all-new Toyota RAV 4 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  The new RAV4 features a new fresh design, four cylinder engine mated to a six speed transmission, and seating for five.  The 2013 RAV 4 has a 2.5 liter four cylinder engine that produces 176 horsepower at 6,000 rpm.  The optional V6 has been discontinued.  The RAV 4 will be available in LE, XLE, and Limited trimlevels.  Front wheel drive models have an EPA estimated 24 mpg city / 31 hwy and all wheel drive models have an EPA estimated 22 mpg city / 29 mpg hwy.  

Best Smartphone for Q4 2012

After eating that delicious stuffed turkey and taking a nice short vacation, we're coming down to the last stretch. If you're thinking of giving a smartphone or just curious what is the best smartphone out there, we're here to help.

Best Overall Smartphone

Google LG Nexus 4

It might not be the most feature packed smartphone out there, but this smartphone truly is the best overall smartphone out there.  Armed with the latest version of Android, version 4.2 Jellybean, the Nexus 4 is elegant and powerful.  The biggest plus is that the Nexus 4 is unlocked, and we're big fans of unlocked smartphones.  Another plus is that the Nexus 4 is sure to get upgraded promptly to the next version of Android since it's a pure stock install of Android.  It's available from Google Play or your nearest T-Mobile store.  It's such a hot seller that Google has had trouble keeping up with demand.

The Samsung Galaxy S III is also a good choice, and it wouldn't be a bad buy if you decided to buy one of these bad boys instead of the Nexus 4.  You're probably wondering why we didn't pick the Samsung Galaxy Note II instead of the Galaxy S III.  While the Galaxy Note II is another wonderful phone, most people would probably be happier with the Galaxy S III's size and don't need all the features that the Galaxy Note II provides.  We feel its better to get a phone that fits the users' needs and not all the bells and whistles you're most likely not going to be using most of the time, if ever.

Best Consumer Smartphone

Apple iPhone 5

If your idea of a smartphone is making calls, listening to music, watching videos, and don't mind being limited to the Apple ecosystem and accessories then the Apple iPhone 5 is the phone for you.  The iPhone use to have a bigger selection of apps then Google's Android, but they've caught up.  There's pretty much no difference in selection of apps for Android and iOS.  The iPhone 5 also currently no longer has a better selection of accessories then Android either since the roll out of the new lightning connector.  Apple Maps is improving every day but its still a work in progress.  Google Maps still has an edge over Apple Maps.  The biggest plus for the iPhone 5 is the beautiful Retina display.

In the next segment of our Best Smartphone series, we'll be discussing the best smartphone for AT&T.  Stay tuned, you may be surprised at our picks.

State Farm Discovers More Internet Usage Behind The Wheel Compared To Previous Years

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.  -- State Farm releases results of its fourth annual distracted driver survey.  The results are troubling as there seems to be an upward trend towards using the Internet while driving.  In July 2012, State Farm's Strategic Resources Department conducted a survey of people ages 18 and up.  State Farm says that they receive one thousand responses every year.   In the 18-29 category, there was a 19% increase of drivers using the Internet on a cellphone.  In the all age groups category, there was a 8% increase of driver's using the Internet on a cellphone.  This is dangerous and is something drivers should not be doing.  Please practice safe driving as we head into the holidays.  Happy Thanksgiving and please pull over if you really need to use your cellphone.

Getting Through A Hard Work Day

It's been awhile since we last did a review on portable chargers.  We figured we'd revisit the topic and this time we decided to put two high capacity USB chargers to the test.  With the economy still weak, we're working harder then ever to put food on the table, so we can't afford to run out of power at bad time.  In this comparison, we're pitting the Energizer's Universal Multi-Port Charger Model PP2-5K v. Energizer Energi-To-Go XP4001.

Style is subjective, but we prefer the the soft rubber feeling of the PP2-5K versus the hard plastic and rubber trim of the XP4001.  The PP2-5K also has the advantage of being smaller, but it is slightly thicker then the XP4001.  The XP4001 also tends to attract finger prints.  After a hard day at work, the PP2-5K is also easier to clean since it has a easy to clean smooth surface with little to no cracks or crevices for dirt to get stuck in.

In addition to having an easier to clean design, the PP2-5K also wins with ease of use.  The Energizer Energi-To-Go comes with all the tips you might need and a charging adapter, but the Energizer PP2-5K has a common microUSB port to recharge its battery, but only comes with a microUSB cable.  Apple users will need their own cable to recharge their phones and keep the included cable to recharge the battery.  Since the XP4001 debuted, we were disappointed that it required a proprietary charger to recharge its battery.  It's nice to see that the PP2-5K has a microUSB port to recharge it's battery so users won't have to suffer from having to keep yet another charger around.  This also helps in case the battery were to run out of power, most common car chargers would be able to do the trick.

Both have enough power to fully charge today's smartphones.  The Universal Multi-Port Charger has a 5000 mAh battery, while the Energi-To-Go only has a 4000 mAh battery.  While they both have enough power to fully charge a smartphone, the advantage obviously goes to the PP2-5K due to its higher capacity which is important for those long and hard work days.  The PP2-5K is a big improvement compared  to the Energizer Energi-To-Go XP 4001 since it is easier to carry, easier to clean, and will keep your smartphones powered throughout the day so we'll be able to work hard in our current economic climate.

Revised Honda Cvic Echos Accord

TORRANCE, Calif -- Honda has released pics of the facelifted 2013 Civic ahead of its Los Angeles Auto Show debut.  No pictures of the interior were released, but the exterior has a more sporty and upscale look.  The look is heavily influenced by Honda's new 2013 Accord.  The 2013 Civic will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 29.  It will also go on sale at Honda dealers on the same day.